Photographer snaps at Katter's ad

Rory Callinan

THE photographer whose images were used in anti-gay marriage advertisements in Queensland says he does not support their use in a political campaign.

Images of two shirtless men hugging have featured in the Katter Australian Party's TV advertisement targeting the state Liberal-National Party leader, Campbell Newman, over his support for gay marriage.

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He said he was against the images being used for this purpose and would contact the agency to try to stop them being used. ''I am against the use of it personally and if I can stop it I will,'' he said.

The advertisement has been condemned by Bob Katter's gay half-brother Carl, prominent gay rights activists and the leaders of Queensland's main political parties.

But Mr Katter, who was once awarded the title of Australia's leading homophobe for saying he ''would walk to Bourke backwards if the poof population of north Queensland is any more than 0.001 per cent'', remained defiant.

Taken to illustrate the issue of gay adoption … one of the French images used in Bob Katter's campaign against Mr Newman. Photo: 123RF/Franck Camhi

He told reporters he respected Carl's right to speak out about the ads.

The gay community in Mr Katter's electorate was incensed by the advertisements.

James Newburrie, in Mount Isa, who last year organised a rally outside Mr Katter's office to protest against the politician's anti-gay stance, said the whole thing appeared to be about creating a media storm.

''This is about a party that has no funding so they can get primary votes and get more money. This is nothing more than attention seeking,'' he said.

''The discussion in Queensland is about a civil union and not around gay marriage - and when you consider the ad is not talking about state policy then it is to get attention.''